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Sofa reupholstery - the inner workings of your couch

Home All Sofa reupholstery – the inner workings of your couch

Sofa reupholstery is much more than recovering a couch in a new fabric. There’s actually a lot going on under your seat!

When you decide to have sofa reupholstery, you’re choosing to revitalise it from the frame upwards. So, from springs to stuffing, here’s what you might like to know about reupholstering your settee.

Sofa reupholstery – elements and components

We call it a ‘naked sofa’ when the upholstery fabric has been removed from a couch. Sometimes this leaves a cotton cover but often you can see the wooden frame covered in hessian and or padding, filled with foam and stockinette, feathers – or even, in antique furniture, hay or hair.

Every sofa reupholstery project is different and includes checks to make sure everything that’s normally hidden is still in good working order.

1. Frame

Sofa frames are made from hardwood for strength and resilience. We use beech and oak to make repairs to the frame, should any sections need replacing.

2. Filling

We offer 3 types of fire retardant filling and lumbar support – foam, fibre, and feather & down. Old foam will have corroded or might be toxic and will ideally need replacing.

3. Springs

We’ll check and replace the hessian webbing or springs. We stock a wide selection of pocket (coil) and serpentine (sinuous or zig zag springs) replacement springs.

4. Decorative woodwork

Many pieces of furniture have visible wooden details, including feet and armrests, that the customer wants polishing. We can also replace old castors.

5. Recliner mechanisms

Our Master Upholsterers will refer a faulty recliner chair or settee to The Engine Room – also known as our team of electricians, who will get it working again.

What is sofa reupholstery?

Our master upholsterers strip your furniture down to its frame, inspect and tighten joints, replace worn or broken webs, springs, padding and stuffing, and cover your seat in the reupholstery fabric of your choice.

This is the perfect way to revive a much loved piece of furniture, without compromising on the comfort and style of the original design. Sofa reupholstery is an affordable alternative to buying a new, quality couch and is better for the environment (it doesn’t go into landfill). Plus, all work is carried out in the UK, reducing your sosfa’s carbon footprint. At Plumbs, our sofa reupholstery service comes with a 3 Year Quality Guarantee.

The process of reupholstery

This is the basic complete process for reupholstery, though it might differ slightly between types of furniture – for example, a Chesterfield sofa has different needs to a Queen Anne chair or settee, and a recliner sofa has electrics to contend with.

  1. Assessment & unpicking
  2. Repairs to frame & foam
  3. Fabric kit cutting & sewing
  4. Preparing the frame
  5. Fitting the fabric kit
  6. Seat cushions
  7. Quality check

Free swatches and a free consultation

Why not browse our wingback chair reupholstery fabrics and shortlist a few favourites? We’ll send you a free swatch pack of your chosen samples in the post.

When you’re ready to talk through your options, it’s time to book a free visit from your local consultant. They have a lot of experience and can make sure your sofa gets the makeover you deserve.

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We have a number of consultants local to you, ready to transform your furniture.

Learn more about Plumbs Sofa Covers

  • UK-wide service
  • Family business
  • Made-to-measure
  • Free-in-home consultation
  • Over 800 fabrics
  • Quality guarantee